Big Ryan shows us what he thinks about man-bags.
Sorry if I hop on the soapbox for a little bit with this post, but I think this is an issue that is important to me and the troops I have under me. I know that most of you are not in the military or in a career field considered to be dangerous, but this applies to everyone. Lifeis inherently dangerous and we face situtations everyday where we are forced to rely on our training. Keep this thought in mind when you read this post.
Let me ask everyone a question: What is your honest opinion about military fitness? In other words, do you think our armed forces are “Fit to Fight” as the Air Force puts it? Some branches of service, the Army and Marines in particular, I believe, are prepared for combat because their emphasis on physical training (PT). The Marines have actively pursued incorporating Crossfit or Crossfit style programming into their PT regimen. With increased physical performance, Marines have increased their capacity to perform well in combat and deal with any unknown situations war will throw their direction. (For more information about the direction of Marine PT, read A Concept for Functional Fitness.)
On the other hand, the Air Force conducts their fitness a little different from the Marines and Army and—let’s face it—doesn’t adequately prepare airman for combat. I have even heard arguments from one commander that the Air Force mission is different from that of the Army and Marines. Granted, the Air Force did not get the nickname Chair Force for nothing, but despite the nature of the job; being in the military is dangerous. All military personnel have the potential to deploy, face the unknowns of war and be in a situation where their
Dave's side job as a Concept 2 rower model.
military and physical training will help them survive and win. For example, my job as a contracting officer requires me to sit at a desk in front of a computer most of the day. However, my job also requires me to deploy at any notice for a 6 month on, 6 month off deploym
ent schedule. Deploying scares me because of the unknowns. Will I be going to Iraq or Afghanistan? Will I be going on convoys and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs or roadside bombs)? Will my base be mortared by enemy insurgents? Will I potentially be put in a situation where my physical fitness will help me survive? I honestly do not know. Life will always throw the unknown and unknowable our direction. It is up to me to prepare myself physically for the challenges that war and life have ahead of me.
Suzie practicing to carry her 2 year-old.
All airmen have a duty to professional performance in combat that starts with preparation—you practice like you play. Airmen should train at the same capacity they would if they were in combat. The Air Force, in my opinion, does not provide the means or knowledge to prepare our airmen for combat. I get livid when I see the Air Force fitness using pushups, crunches, a 1.5 mile run and a waist measurement as a fitness test and, ultimately, a standard. How is measuring my airman’s waist and crunches any kind of indicator of physical fitness? In fact, I’ve seen airmen prepare workout routines that only incorporate pushups, crunches and running in order to do well on the PT test. How is that preparing them for a deployment. I cringe every time I pass the base gym that looks semi-reminiscent of a 24 Hour Tool Academy because of all the rows of ellipticals, treadmills and bicep curl machines. I shake my head when I see military members spending their mandated 1 hour of physical training three days a week at a Zumba class being offered in the aerobics room. I am a big advocate of everyone being acitve in general, but come on! When faced with a life or death situation in combat, do you think Captain Brian Chontosh relied on his Zumba Training?
If Greg had a mirror to stare at himself, he could double his L-sit times
Phew. So with every rant and problem brought up, one must come up with a solution. In my own perfect little world, I would get rid of all the mainstream, Globogym mindset and equipment that has infested military fitness culture and I would beat everyone to death with Crossfit style PT and programming. However, this is more difficult said than done. First Lietenant Matthew Hoff, US Army, wrote an article in the Journal discussing a way ahead to better Military PT Tests. I am a huge advocateof Lt Hoff’s ideas for a Combat Fitness Challenge (Run 100m, Carry 2 20lb Sandbags 400 m, Climb Over a 6ft Wall, 70 pound ammunition can press, high crawl 50 meters, 5 wallballs with 20lb sandbag, to dragging a 150lb sandbag a required distance). This test would be scored and is completely functional to the nature of being in military combat. He has other ideas such as a Crossfit Total and different Cardio/Respiratory Endrance that are great ideas. Training for these events will help military members and even civilians alike be prepared for the unknown and unknowable during a time of war.
WOD 12.28.2009
Straight Leg Deadlift 4-4-4
“Helen”
3 Rounds
400M Run
21 KB Swing (1.5 pood)
12 Pull-ups
Awesome rant Matty! Ready for mine…?!?!
As an LA Co Lifeguard, I can totally relate with you to the importance of maintaining physical fitness for the safety of myself as well as others. Ever since our training academy we are told that we are (for all intents and purposes) getting paid to stay in shape. Through the academy, rookies must be in excellent shape just to make it through, but year after year I see lifeguards let their level of physical fitness plummet from peak conditioning to just barely making the recheck swims (the standards are so slow it’s a joke). I guess the attitude is that once you pass the academy, your fitness will never really be a determinant of maintaining status as a lifeguard besides a yearly 500 m ocean swim which can pretty much be “doggy paddled”.
It wasn’t until this last summer that I really realized the importance of being in peak conditioning each time I step on the sand with my reds on. I was working Manhattan Pier when that huge south swell hit (sets hitting the top of the pier). I knew it would be a gnarly day but had no idea the extent to which my body was about to be tested. Due to the big swells, extremely strong currents, and beach patrons’ insistence on being in the water in these hazardous conditions, I hit the water about 20 times that day and each rescue was serious and extremely physically demanding. At the end of the day when everything seemed to be calming down, I had to run into the water for one last rescue. By the time I got to the victim, I could see a monster set on the horizon and we were right in the impact zone. As the waves started to hit, the victim became panicked and started holding onto me and holding me under in an attempt to keep himself afloat. As we tumbled in huge walls of white water and drifted closer and closer to the pier pilings, for the first time I was actually concerned for my own safety. I call this my “come to Jesus moment”…. I remember looking at the pier and then looking at the set waves that kept rolling through as I was gasping for breath before my victim climbed on me again, recalling my dads concerns for me at the beginning of the day (he told me about 10 times not to get myself hurt while saving someone else), and thinking that my only hope was that another guard would see what was happening and come out to assist…or at least get the guy off of me! I finally kicked the victim off of me as we were being swept under the pier, and as I swam in and started yelling to the other guards on the north side to help the victim in, I realized that they had no idea I was even in the water on the south side, much less what I had just gone through. I was able to grab the victim as he came through the pier and helped him in, and then literally collapsed on the sand at the shoreline.
The real kicker of this whole story was finding out why my fellow lifeguards were not there to back me up…they were focused on “rescuing” two off-duty lifeguards on the north side of the pier that became scared and were too nervous to swim to shore on their own… as I was literally being drowned by a victim on the south side of the pier.
This whole debacle was definitely a learning experience for our entire agency, but it really drove home the motivation behind maintaining peak physical conditioning not only for my own sake, but for the sake of fellow lifeguards and potential victims. The usual “lifeguard on-duty workouts” (usually ends up being about 20 minutes of soft sand running, some sit ups, some stretching, and a dip in the water) just aren’t going to cut it when the “shit hits the fan”. Not only does being in excellent condition give our bodies the capability of withstanding physically demanding conditions, but it also gives us the CONFIDENCE that our bodies can handle such conditions….and I think finding and maintaining that self-efficacy is really half the battle.
Wow…longest post ever?
But a good one courtney!!! I liked it haha
Hilly Helen made me lose my lunch for the first time in about 4 months so way to go forrest.. Helen is no longer my favorite workout. Thanks
j/k haha – 10:44
Heck of a story Courtney. Definitely glad you are making the effort to be in peak condition.
Helen’s Mounds was definitely tough. 10:11 at 1Pd. Stupid shoulder holding me back.
Love the rants. I wish I have substance to contribute there as I’ve always dreamt of fighting, but all my fights have been of a different type in life.
haha, Chris you had me there for a sec.
10:54 @ 1Pd
Thanks Matt and Courtney-great stories.
10:35 w/2 pood and C2B pullups